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Minnesota recorded 70 fire deaths in 2022, the highest number since 1995

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

Minnesota has seen an increase in fire deaths since 2018 with 70 fatalities in 2022, the highest number since 1995.So far in 2023 there have been 19 fire-related deaths, according to the Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division. At this time last year there had been 17.“Many (of these deaths) stem from lifestyle and behavioral decisions,” said Interim State Fire Marshal Amanda Swenson. The state fire marshal keeps data on fire-related deaths on their web site at https://dps.mn.gov/divisions/sfm/Pages/Fire-Deaths.aspx.Forty fires were labeled undetermined. Of those, in which the cause was determined nine were a result of careless smoking including smoking while on oxygen or falling asleep without properly extinguishing a cigarette. Thirteen were vehicle crashes resulting in fires and three were from gas leaks. Other categories include accidental and intentional.Of all the deaths 29 involved alcohol or drugs, prescription or illegal.Greater Minnesota accounted for 59% of dead...

OCM fining illicit shops as CAURD licenses roll out

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (WTEN) -- The office of Cannabis Management has approved an additional 36 Conditional Adult Use Recreational Dispensary licenses. Seven of those are from the Finger Lakes Region, where a now settled lawsuit, previously held up the licensing process. There are 13 retail dispensaries open for business statewide with an additional two opening shop on Friday. One in Syracuse, and one in the Bronx which is delivery only, but will transition to full shop.  Hochul signs legislation to curb illicit cannabis market in NYS "What’s been exciting about watching this map expand is that we now literally have seeds of this retail market now planted right across the state from the bottom to the top of the state and this is going to continue to grow," said one member at the Cannabis Control Board meeting on Thursday. Last month, the Governor signed legislation to allow OCM to conduct raids on illicit shops. They've since issued notices of violation and fines of up to $10,000 a day, bu...

Albany Rural Cemetery hosting scavenger hunt and wine tasting

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Albany Rural Cemetery will be hosting an adult scavenger hunt and wine tasting. The event will run from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on June 21. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! The evening of fun and education will have an age requirement of 18+ to attend. Participants will register a team of up to 4 people and will be given instructions and clues. Team start times will be recorded, with the scavenger hunt taking place within a restricted area of the cemetery. Entries must be turned in by 7:30 p.m. for scoring, and a prize will be given out to the team with the most correct answers. Berkshire Mountains Faerie Festival opening in Adams The scavenger hunt is $15 per person, with snacks and water being provided. Stable Gate Winery will be offering a tasting of 3 wines for $10, with glasses and bottles of wine being available for purchase. Reservations can be made on Eventbrite. The rain date for the even...

Schroon Lake seniors camp at school as prank

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

SCHROON LAKE, N.Y. (NEWS10) — Usually, senior pranks live up to the name, and the Superintendent doesn't know about them ahead of time. But Dr. Harry Brooks, Interim Superintendent at Schroon Lake Central School, said his students are different. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! "The students did in fact test the waters," said Dr. Brooks. "They sent emails and texts, and they gave me a preview of what they might be doing." A master plan, complete with camping, balloons, and saran wrap. But the class didn't just leave the place trashed. Museum day camps for kids set in Glens Falls "By the end of the day, there was no trace left behind that they had even been there," said Schroon Lake Central School Principal, Kemm Pemrick. "So, they followed through on their half of the bargain." Pemrick added it was no surprise the class was so respectful. "This end-of-the-year prank is a demonstration of their maturity and the respect th...

Twitter worst among major social media platforms for LGBTQ safety, GLAAD says

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — All major social media platforms do poorly at protecting LGBTQ+ users from hate speech and harassment—especially those who are transgender, non-binary or gender non-conforming, the advocacy group GLAAD said Thursday. But Twitter is the worst. Get the latest, news, weather, sports and community events delivered right to your inbox! LGBTQ+ advocates have long warned that online hate and harassment can lead to violence offline. But even when it does not, online abuse can take a toll on a person's mental health. In its annual Social Media Safety Index, GLAAD gave Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and Twitter low or failing scores, saying the platforms don't do enough to keep their users safe.That said, most improved from a year ago. Twitter, which was acquired by Tesla CEO Elon Musk last October, was the only exception. GLAAD's scorecard called it “the most dangerous platform for LGBTQ people" and the only one that saw its scores decline from last year. Once-...

Man charged in shooting that killed 19-year-old, injured 3 others

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS – The St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office has charged a man in connection with a shooting in April that left a 19-year-old dead and three teenagers injured.According to Evita Caldwell, a spokeswoman for the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the shooting happened just after 10:15 p.m. on April 26, in the 2800 block of Chippewa Street.Police claim the four victims were inside a truck that was reversing on Chippewa Street when a suspect fired shots. The driver, Kobe Dotson, then struck a fire hydrant, causing both driver’s side doors to be ripped off. Dotson then crashed into a home. A Missouri doctor’s death is steeped in mystery and speculation. Authorities aren’t talking Dotson suffered gunshot wounds and was also ejected from the vehicle after the crash. He was pronounced dead at a local hospital. Three teenagers—two 16-year-old girls and a 15-year-bold boy—suffered minor injuries in the incident.Homicide detectives eventually arrested Clyde Sanders, 34, for the...

7 Kansas City firefighters injured battling large warehouse fire

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Seven firefighters were injured as more than 160 firefighters from dozens of units battled a fire that consumed a wood pallet-building business.Firefighters responded to burning warehouse near Monroe and Nicholson Avenues in Kansas City's Northeast Industrial District shortly after 12 p.m. Thursday. The fire department said three of the firefighters went to hospitals for treatment. Another four firefighters were treated at the scene.Firefighters searched the building and then moved out of the building to tackle the fire."They moved into a defensive posture, meaning they put the ladder sticks up all the way to the top and extended them and we have a large amount of water," Jason Spreitzer, KCFD, said.A YouTube Shorts video from Brandon Wood shows a view of the fire smoke from the inside of an airplane over Kansas City.Pretty ominous from the air. Saw it on the way out of town. https://t.co/bzMK6Kbcdh— Brandon Wood ☕️ (@BrandonWouldnt) June 15, 2023 "The whole yard...

Ascension Health nurses rally at company headquarters today

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

ST. LOUIS – Nurses from Ascension Health in Kansas and Texas are headed to the healthcare giant’s headquarters in St. Louis Thursday for a rally.The National Nurses Organizing Committee/National Nurses United represents nearly 2,000 nurses across three facilities, two in Wichita, Kansas, and one in Austin, Texas.Union representatives say the nurses want to see changes to what they call unsafe staffing practices.The nurses are negotiating for their first contract after unionizing in the past year and have voted to authorize a one-day strike.Ascension Health issued a statement about the current negotiations:We continue to bargain in good faith with National Nurses United (NNU) to come to a mutually beneficial agreement on initial contracts for the associates they represent in Ascension Texas and Ascension Via Christi. While we respect our associates’ right to organize themselves through union representation and participate in union activities, this action is disappointing given that w...

Valeri Nichushkin expected to rejoin Avalanche for 2023-24 season

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

Valeri Nichushkin plans to rejoin the Colorado Avalanche for the start of the 2023-24 season after leaving the team during the playoffs, sources told The Denver Post.The team expects Nichushkin to be back for the start of training camp in September.Nichushkin last played in Game 2 of Colorado’s first-round playoff series, scoring the tying goal in a 3-2 win over the Kraken. On April 23, the day of Game 3 in Seattle, an intoxicated woman was found in Nichushkin’s hotel room, causing a team doctor to call for an ambulance to take her to a hospital, according to a Seattle Police Department report.Nichushkin left Seattle the day of the incident and did not play in Game 3 or the remainder of the series, which the Avalanche lost in seven games. There was no criminal investigation stemming from the incident, according to Seattle PD, and NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said Nichushkin was also not under investigation by the league. The Avalanche declined to comment, saying Nichushki...

Deputies rescue Air Force airman after serious mountain biking crash

Published Thu, 20 Feb 2025 16:13:33 GMT

A late afternoon mountain bike ride in the hills of Menifee, California last month was nearly Jess Dureza’s last.He had anticipated "just a quick ride before sunset."Mountain bikers know it can be a dangerous and solitary sport, one that takes you many miles from roads, homes and cell service.Crashes happen, and when they do, you hope they are minor. If not, you hope that someone finds you quickly.“I hit a jump and then crashed,” Dureza recalled. “After that, I don’t remember anything.”The Air Force Technical Sergeant, who's also a husband and father, had suffered critical injuries with no means of seeking help on his own.With sunlight waning, Dureza regained consciousness and was fortunate to have enough cell service to call 911 and share his location.Rescuers with the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department jumped into action.Video shows rescue crews hoisting Jess Dureza into a helicopter after a mountain biking crash in Menifee, California. May 8, 2023. (Riverside Co. Sheriff's Dep...